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These teams are investing a great deal of time, money and resources into the players they pick. Naturally, they're going to want guys who eat, sleep and breathe football. But more and more, I think you'll see a steady increase in the amount of players who have no problem saying they play football because they understand what a lucrative opportunity it can be. And there are already (and always have been) a percentage of guys who play because they know it can make them rich. Those guys don't really love the game or constantly dream about winning championships, for some, that's the last thing on their mind with the first being, "Doing this stuff is going to get me paid." Obviously teams are careful with those types of guys but there's a few on every team. And if a player says they have interests outside of football and that causes scouts and executives to shout, "But does he love football?! How can we feel good about drafting this kid knowing he has the world's most exquisite marble collection, a hobby he says he plans to continue when he plays?! Oh, the horror!!" then maybe they need to re-evaluate the process they're using to learn about these kids.

I have a family member who works with a firm that rents out heavy construction equipment for a variety of jobs, including well-drilling. He finds himself in PA quite a bit and through the companies and people he's talked to, he's heard that T-Pegs has always been a "behind the scenes" type of person. Evidently, the guy has a real innate ability to crunch numbers and run a business with a slightly different perspective than most. I guess he's very much about letting the results of the hard work put in by the people he employs be the main focus of his enterprises. He also puts trust in the people he hires for top positions. He prefers to find the right people, deliver his expectations of them and then get out of their way and let them do their job. I'd say this is definitely a good thing when it comes to the Bills and Sabres. They've stumbled a little bit out of the gate with people like Whaley, Ryan, Regier, etc. but hopefully now they've "got their guys" in the right positions. The way he prefers to run things is also probably why they haven't spoken publicly on Brandon. I've heard Terry was "highly disappointed" while Kim was pretty PO'ed given that she gave Brandon the chance to be honest with her and he lied. Being a "behind the scenes" guy also explains why he isn't great in interviews and in speaking with the press. But for all intents and purposes, they genuinely seem like good people who have built quite the business empire over the last 25+ years.

Taylor seemed to be most accurate when throwing to receivers he had spent time developing a rapport with and building chemistry. When he and Watkins were injured at the same time in 2015, they started getting to know each other better while rehabbing their injuries. And then, as we saw, Taylor to Watkins was a pretty solid connection during the back half of t he 2015 season. Watkins injuries prevented them from picking up where they left off but also in 2016 and 2017 was when Taylor suddenly seemed to lose one of his best skills, which was top-notch accuracy on the deep ball. But at the same time, he really lacked a downfield target without Watkins. Whether or not you develop a chemistry with a teammate, you still gotta give them chances to make plays. I assume Allen will be able to see the field a bit better than Taylor so hopefully that will provide him the chance to see windows/opportunities that Taylor just flat out couldn't see.

I didn't say Taylor needed to be throwing jump balls or 50/50 prayers. Far too many times he would wind up like he was ready to throw but then he'd pull it down and start running around. While he was exciting to watch on plays where he miraculously avoided pressure and a sack, there were an equal number of plays where he simply held onto the ball too long and wound up taking a sack. Those types of plays are where he needed to trust his receivers and at least give them a chance to make a play. You're never going to know if your guy can make something happen if you never give him the chance.

Accuracy and ball placement, a quick release that doesn't allow defenders any time to read body cues and make a play on the ball, ability to read/react/adjust to what defenses are showing/doing, trusting your teammates and giving them a chance to make a play (something I feel Taylor didn't do enough of), confidence to attempt difficult throws, pocket movement and keeping your eyes up to see if a receiver comes open on a play where you have to improvise. Size, arm talent, big time stats, etc. that type of stuff, to me, is held in too high of a regard. Having the prototypical size is nice but I don't think it directly correlates with success. Arm talent is a bonus. And I read arm talent as more than just strength and the ability to put it on a rope. Arm talent involves the capability of knowing how much air to put under a deep pass, how much touch to use on a fade, knowing when you need to really zip it to a spot on the field, knowing how to throw guys open, etc. Mechanics and footwork, I feel, are also things that have too much emphasis placed on them. Peyton Manning never had the best looking footwork, he'd be tap dancin' in the pocket on most plays but his ungodly work ethic, preparation and knowledge more than made up for shoddy footwork. If I'm a coach or GM and my QB has a weird throwing motion on top of choppy/awkward dropbacks but he's able to pick apart defenses and hit his targets on time, etc. then I couldn't care less in how he looks in getting the job done. I care about the end result and if the end result is success and wins, have a funky throwing motion and dropback all you want.

You are correct in your assessment that he pushed the ball downfield more than any other QB that was coming up this year. The more low-percentage throws you attempt, the worse your completion percentage becomes. But at least his coaches were trusting him enough to even dial up those kinds of throws. Bills are looking to capitalize on the traditional traits he possesses and hope to minimize his chances to make mistakes. Wait and see, it's all we can do. Someone also mentioned simple similarities to Wentz and some snarkasm that since they are physically similar that Allen will end up like Wentz. I get it. Another similarity they share is that they both ran the same offense in college. Numbers only go so far. There are things that can't be measured that can tip the scales one way or the other. People pegged Johnny Manziel to be a franchise guy based off numbers but the things that couldn't be measured (his attitude and approach toward the game) were the determining factor in his lack of NFL success. Perhaps the things that can't be measured in Allen will be what pushes him to success. That's the hope anyway.

Yezzir, John from Riverside.

In the grand scheme of all things, neither of these incidents are really that big of a deal. In the grand scheme of the NFL... these incidents still aren't that big of a deal when compared to other things players have done.

I don't see Clay getting moved. He's been one of the leading receivers on the team since he signed here. 2018 may be his last season with Buffalo, tho. They have an opt-out for 2019 in his contract and he turns 30 next year. Same can be said for Hughes and McCoy. Both player's contracts are up after 2019 and they'll both be over 30. So if we're looking at any of these three to be shuffled off the roster via trade, expect it to happen next year. I feel like McBeane may have the same type of philosophy as Belichick in terms of unloading a veteran player and his contract when they have one year left on the deal that way they're guaranteed something in return as opposed to letting them play out their deal, hit free agency in 2020 and potentially sign elsewhere which gives the team nothing in return. Throw Kyle in that group as well. Except I doubt he'd be traded, more likely just retiring. So yeah, 2018 could be the last season we see Clay, McCoy, Hughes and the Meatball in Bills gear.

Ya, this is a fair point. Mayfield has done a few things that may come off as cocky or immature but nothing that anyone should consider "detrimental to a team." I don't mind Mayfield's attitude, kid has confidence and swagger, those are necessary traits if you wanna succeed at the toughest position in sports. Always felt like way too much was made out of Mayfield's off-field stuff and Rosen's personality. Not only does it suck to wait so long for the draft but with the time between the Combine and the actual Draft, so many things get nitpicked and blown out of proportion. We've heard GMs and teams say it before that they have to be careful with how much analysis they do on players because it's easy to keep circling back to some minor thing and let that thing go from a molehill to a mountain and give teams false reasons not to draft a guy. I assume setting their board and compiling their scouting reports is like painting. At some point you gotta put down the brushes and walk away from the canvas and call it done.

Seemed like he lost that affinity last season, if that's not the case though, why give people such a hard time about answering any Buffalo-related questions? You mention a scholarship for his brother, which I admit I know nothing about but maybe UB didn't offer him the scholarship and that's why he was weird?

"Aw geez, I'm not excelling in my chosen field. I suppose the only thing I'm good for is flippin' burgers."

The Fredonia/Dunkirk area has taken quite the dive over the last 10-15 years. Numerous factories/industries have closed down, jobs have been lost, ridiculous crap like meth has invaded certain areas of Chautauqua County, etc. While it's further away for some, SJF is easily the better option for camp.

Also, Josh Allen is drafted to a city with a section called Allentown. SpooOoOoOOooky!

Hey. You're a heartless bast**d!! As with anything involving fanatics, there's always gonna be way too much praise going towards one guy and way too much criticism going towards another. I don't think RB was an all-star at his job but he did work his way up and clearly he has legitimate qualities that allowed him to hang onto a number of jobs with the Bills over the years. But now he done tried to throw the moves on one too many interns or female co-workers so it's out to pasture with him. I'm sure Kim will have no issues taking over.

I'm not insinuating that Brandon deserves heaps of praise and credit. I'm just saying his marketing skills have played a role in keeping the ticket sales up over the years. The tailgating is pretty wild. I do think some fans go a bit overboard at times and end up gaining nationwide attention for all the wrong reasons. And then people uninitiated with Bills fans and games get the idea that all fans are drinking beer poured down some girls ass crack or everyone's trading jerseys for beejurs. But hey at least we aren't dirtbag Eagles fans who hurl (and waste) full cans of beer at Vikings fans with families as they enter the stadium.

Maybe I ate too many paint chips as a child or lived too close to some power lines but...are you SURE you're being sarcastic? ?

Based on Mack's behavior last season when the Raiders came to town it'd appear as if he's still somehow salty that he was passed up for Watkins during the 2014 draft. Or maybe something weird happened because before last season I don't recall him having any issues answering Buffalo-related questions given his college alma-mater is right behind where I'm currently seated. But then last season as that Bills-Raiders game rolled around and suddenly the dude refused to speak a word about Buffalo whatsoever. I'd assume Buffalo isn't on his list of destinations if he gets to test FA lol. We can dream, tho!

Yezzirr!! I edited my post like a minute after hitting "Submit Reply" because as I was typing it, more info was added to the OP.

The Ringer occasionally has some good articles, but they too often seem to gravitate toward the unpopular opinion on any given topic and it always feels very disingenuous and inauthentic. Seems like they wanna be "that guy" in certain situations in order to stand out and get them clicks. There have been more than a few pieces I've read where I've thought, "Good lord, there's no way the person writing this actually believes it... because if they did, nobody in their right mind would wanna pay 'em to write for them."

People can hate on Brandon all they want but there's something to be said about a guy who can consistently sell out Bills games while in the midst of a 17-year playoff drought and most seasons playing meaningless games by December. Obviously he should have never been put in a GM role but that was Ralph Wilson's decision. He's also responsible for developing training camp at St. John Fisher which is typically referred to one of the nicest and most fan-interactive camps in the league by those that visit it. I wonder what's causing the shake up? I'd assume they feel pretty good about the Bills right now. Ended the drought in the third year of their ownership. Just pulled the trigger and drafted what they think is their franchise QB. Hired the head coach they wanted all along, even before Rex. Sabres, on the other hand, tanked an entire season for nothing. Constant upheaval at the top since they bought the team. Dismal last two seasons, each with different coaches that can't seem to reach the players or figure out the best way to utilize their players. Should be interesting to learn more. EDIT - In the time I spent typing up this post the information behind Brandon's departure was added to the thread. So uh... welp. Seems like Russ is a dingbat.

Gettleman was saying teams were calling and offering a "box of popcorn, a hot pretzel and a hot dog for number two overall." He wanted a first rounder in 2019 before he even considered trading and we know now for certain that Beane wasn't keen on giving up any 2019 picks... likely because they expect to finish with a pretty rough record which could put them in the top five.

Criticism of the team or the decision makers is fine. What gets me is people constantly calling for decision makers to be fired before the choices they've made have even had the chance to show what they can do. Being in a state of constant flux from the top down is most certainly a surefire way to start another drought. No one says you have to like them, but if you're ready to write off the front office and coaching staff after one full season (which included the first playoff berth in 17 seasons) and one draft, I don't know what to tell you because your expectations are unattainable. And as another individual said on draft night (I can't recall who), there will be some "fans" on this board more interested in getting the opportunity to reinforce their outlooks on certain players if those players bust. It's lame but there are definitely a contingent of posters that will flock to this board to squeal "I TOLD YOU SO" at the top of their lungs the minute Josh Allen has a bad game or the second Ray-Ray McCloud drops a pass while Equinameous St. Brown has two receptions for 28 yards and a meaningless score for the Packers or something. Happens every year. I wasn't exactly psyched for Allen, but clearly there isn't a single iota of knowledge anyone on this board or any fan can share with any NFL team that they don't already know about these players. Clearly, Rosen is not viewed as highly by NFL teams as he is by fans, otherwise he would've come off the board first as he's "easily" the most NFL-ready QB with the most refined skill set combined with natural pocket-passer traits. I really think teams have hang ups about his durability. I mean, he might be able to hit the weight room and fill out his frame a little more but as he is right now, I'm sure a lot of GMs were thinking, "Man, this kid is gonna be on the sidelines for six weeks the minute he takes a hit from an NFL edge rusher." I trust the decision makers at OBD right meow. I trust the McBeane vision. They're well-aware that their jobs hinge on Allen's outcome. They know the kid better than any of us. They must have a pretty solid plan on how to develop him. And they must feel pretty good about the kid's chances to become a franchise signal caller. Nobody wants to get ahead of themselves and start believing right away that Allen is gonna be a boom. Given the track record the Bills have for developing franchise QBs it's easy to fall into the negativity. But... if you're drawing up a QB in a lab, Allen is the prototype, so at least they're starting there. And that's not just from a physical standpoint, plenty of 6'5" 240 lb. QBs enter the league and never amount to anything more than a backup due to how they approach the game or their mentality on the field. From what we've seen, there isn't a throw that Allen fears or believes he can't make, which has been the case with EJ, Tyrod and Fitz. Yeah, all good guys, hard workers, good teammates, etc. But EJ didn't trust himself to make tight window throws and had legitimate trouble learning and retaining the things he was being taught. Tyrod plays on the conservative side and Fitz would like to believe he has a cannon but he doesn't. However that never stopped him from trying throws he probably knew he couldn't make. At least with Allen you have a player that has most definitely shown that he can make all the throws and has also shown that he has the confidence and mentality to actually pull the trigger on those types of throws. Combine that with the fact that he apparently aced all sorts of white-board tests during his interviews with teams and is said to possess the requisite football IQ for franchise guy and I'd say out of the last handful of starting QBs the Bills have put on the field, it's Allen who likely has the best shot to turn into the franchise guy they've been chasing since Jim Kelly hung up the cleats in '96. At least that's what I'm hoping for anyway.

Keep hearing positive things about this Phillips kid. I think he landed in the best possible situation he could've. He's going to have the chance to learn and pick up work habits from Kyle, who was most often Phillips' NFL comparison. Did anyone else hear how he sent a letter to Beane a short while after his pre-draft visit to OBD? Evidently, he stated he was ready to bring his lunch pail and get to work. Seems very excited to be on this team. Has a chance to produce right away as part of the DL rotation. At Stanford he was playing something like 90% of the snaps which is why some scouting reports questioned his motor. He's actually said there were certain plays and situations where he had to decide to conserve energy. Does it look good for him on film if he's chasing down a ball carrier but isn't really in position to make the tackle? Sure. That shows top-notch effort. But on the flipside, he knows he can't do something like that on every single play as he'll have nothing but fumes in the tank by the time the 4th quarter rolls around. So far tho, love his attitude, he presents himself very well, obviously a bright kid. Some scouts questioned his best positional fit, saying he can only do so much if he plays 0 or 1-tech. I think McDermott probably just views that as positional versatility, which he loves, so he'll figure out where to play this kid. Top that off with the fact that Phillips is a former wrestler and this dude was destined to be a Bill. Here's hoping he's Kyle part two.

Johnson was signed to be a player/mentor for last season given that he's a veteran with experience in McDermott's system. They paid him to play and to help all the newcomers catch on. Now that the core secondary players have a season down with this system they can help any rookies/new signings coming in. They also likely felt like they could upgrade, they're very much in tune with that facet of team building. Not many players on this roster have a predetermined spot as they really seem to emphasize on competition rather than starting the guy who knows your system and is one of "your boys" but can't really perform in it anymore (see Ryan, Rex). I read up on the new Johnson kid and the other DB they took, Neal. Both of them have the requisite McBeane combination of skills, character and experience plus versatility on the field. If these picks work out, Edmunds, Phillips, etc., they're gonna be a fun group to watch. Looks like McD's vision is speed, versatility and high motor and if it all comes together they have a shot to be pretty good.